Don Godshaw Gets Wheelchair Platform Tennis Moving

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>APTA Approved Rules of Wheelchair Platform Tennis (TRIAL PERIOD)

1. RULES OF PLAY
The game of wheelchair platform tennis follows the Official Rules of Platform Tennis with the following exceptions:

a) The Two Bounce Rule The wheelchair platform tennis player is allowed two bounces of the ball. The player must return the ball before it bounces a third time. The second bounce can be either in or out of the court boundaries and can be after the ball hits the screen.

b) The Wheelchair The wheelchair is considered part of the body and all applicable rules, which apply to a player’s body, shall apply to the wheelchair.

c) The Service The service shall be delivered in the following manner:

i. Immediately before commencing the service, the server shall be in a stationary position. The server shall then be allowed one push before striking the ball.
ii. The server shall throughout the delivery of the service not touch with any wheel, any area other than that behind the baseline within the imaginary extension of the center mark and sideline.
iii. If conventional methods for the service are physically impossible for a player, then the player or another individual may drop the ball for such a player and allow it to bounce before it is struck. If this is the case, the same method of serving must be used for the entire match.

d) Player Loses Point A player loses a point if:
i. The player fails to return the ball before it has bounced three times; or
ii. Subject to rule e) below the player uses any part of his feet or lower extremities against the ground or against any wheel while delivering service, striking a ball, turning or stopping while the ball is in play; or
iii. The player fails to keep one buttock in contact with his wheelchair seat when contacting the ball.

e) Propelling the Chair with the Foot
i. If due to lack of capacity a player is unable to propel the wheelchair via the wheel then he may propel the wheelchair using one foot.
ii. Even if in accordance with rule e) i. above a player is permitted to propel the chair using one foot, no part of the player’s foot may be in contact with the ground:
a) during the forward motion of the swing, including when the racket strikes the ball;
b) from the initiation of the service motion until the racket strikes the ball.
iii. A player in breach of this rule shall lose the point.

f) Wheelchair/Able-bodied Platform Tennis Where a wheelchair tennis player is playing with or against an able-bodied person in singles or doubles, the Rules of Wheelchair Platform Tennis shall apply for the wheelchair player while the Rules of Platform Tennis shall apply for the able-bodied player. In this instance, the wheelchair player is allowed two bounces while the able-bodied player is allowed only one bounce.

Of all the tournaments that were played last year, with all the heartache and pain of losing or the joy and ebullience of winning, the most inspiring and motivating tournament turned out to be one of those “round robin deals” in Winnetka, Illinois. The players were a mix of levels, with beginners and veterans alike on each court. But this little tournament turned paddle on its head. Or tails, it could be said. Because some players were seated. This was the first wheelchair/able-bodied tournament played in the United States. And if Don Godshaw has his way, it will be the first of many more.

Godshaw was one of those able-bodied players until about seven years ago. A fluke ski accident left him with a spinal cord injury that changed his life but not his lifestyle. His profession is high energy. He is the President of Travelon, which designs and manufactures travel bags and accessories. He travels often for business, to Southeast Asia, South and Central America, and extensively in North America.

As a former ski instructor, Godshaw never lost his love of sports and adventure. He recently got back on skis, ripping up Aspen Mountain in Colorado—no green circles there—and has been active in wheelchair tennis for a five years.

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Source: Platform Tennis Magazine, Vol. 15, Issue 1 Sept./Oct. 2013